Settled as early as 1000 B.C.,
Samoa was "discovered" by European explorers in the 18th century.
International rivalries in the latter half of the 19th century were
settled by an 1899 treaty in which Germany and the US divided the Samoan
archipelago. The US formally occupied its portion - a smaller group of
eastern islands with the excellent harbor of Pago Pago - the following
year.
Geography ::American Samoa
Location:
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
14 20 S, 170 00 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 199 sq km
country comparison to the world: 215
land:
199 sq km
water:
0 sq km
note:includes Rose Island and Swains Island
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
116 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
Climate:
tropical marine,
moderated by southeast trade winds; annual rainfall averages about 3 m;
rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October); little
seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island)
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Lata Mountain 964 m
Natural resources:
pumice, pumicite
Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops:
15%
other:
75% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
typhoons common from December to March
Environment - current issues:
limited natural fresh
water resources; the water division of the government has spent
substantial funds in the past few years to improve water catchments and
pipelines
Geography - note:
Pago Pago has one of the
best natural deepwater harbors in the South Pacific Ocean, sheltered by
shape from rough seas and protected by peripheral mountains from high
winds; strategic location in the South Pacific Ocean
People ::American Samoa
Population:
66,432 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Age structure:
0-14 years: 32.6% (male 11,007/female 10,618)
15-64 years:
63.4% (male 21,335/female 20,778)
65 years and over:
4.1% (male 1,263/female 1,431) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 23.4 years
male:
23.3 years
female:
23.6 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.212% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Birth rate:
23.05 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
Death rate:
4.09 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
Net migration rate:
-6.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Urbanization:
urban population: 92% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization:
2.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.061 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.88 male(s)/female
total population:
1.02 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 9.91 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 152
male:
12.91 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
6.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.97 years
country comparison to the world: 104
male:
71.04 years
female:
77.08 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.22 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: American Samoan(s) (US nationals)
adjective:
American Samoan
Ethnic groups:
native Pacific islander 91.6%, Asian 2.8%, white 1.1%, mixed 4.2%, other 0.3% (2000 census)
Religions:
Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant and other 30%
Languages:
Samoan 90.6% (closely
related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English 2.9%,
Tongan 2.4%, other Pacific islander 2.1%, other 2%
note:most people are bilingual (2000 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
97%
male:
98%
female:
97% (1980 est.)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::American Samoa
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa
conventional short form:
American Samoa
abbreviation:
AS
Dependency status:
unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: Pago Pago
geographic coordinates:
14 16 S, 170 42 W
time difference:
UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of the
US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the
US Government, but there are three districts and two islands* at the
second order; Eastern, Manu'a, Rose Island*, Swains Island*, Western
Independence:
none (territory of the US)
National holiday:
Flag Day, 17 April (1900)
Constitution:
ratified on 2 June 1966; effective 1 July 1967
Legal system:
NA
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)
head of government:
Governor Togiola TULAFONO (since 7 April 2003)
cabinet:
Cabinet made up of 12 department directors
elections:
under
the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as
American Samoa, do not vote in elections for US president and vice
president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican
presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant governor elected
on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a
second term); election last held on 4 and 18 November 2008 (next to be
held in November 2012)
bicameral Fono or
Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate (18 seats; members are
elected from local chiefs to serve four-year terms)and the House of
Representatives (21 seats; 20 members are elected by popular vote and 1
is an appointed, nonvoting delegate from Swains Island; members serve
two-year terms)
elections:
House
of Representatives - last held on 4 November 2008 (next to be held in
November 2010); Senate - last held on 4 November 2008 (next to be held
in November 2012)
election results:
House
of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
NA; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
independents 18
note:American
Samoa elects one nonvoting representative to the US House of
Representatives; election last held on 4 November 2008 (next to be held
in November 2010); results - Eni F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA reelected as
delegate
Judicial branch:
High Court (chief justice and associate justices are appointed by the US Secretary of the Interior)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party [Oreta M. TOGAFAU]; Republican Party [Tautai A. F. FAALEVAO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Population Pressure LAS (addresses the growing population pressures)
International organization participation:
Interpol (subbureau), IOC, SPC, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territory of the US)
Flag description:
blue, with a white
triangle edged in red that is based on the fly side and extends to the
hoist side; a brown and white American bald eagle flying toward the
hoist side is carrying two traditional Samoan symbols of authority, a
war club known as a "Fa'alaufa'i" (upper; left talon), and a coconut
fiber fly whisk known as a "Fue" (lower; right talon); the combination
of symbols broadly mimics that seen on the US Great Seal and reflects
the relationship between the United States and American Samoa
Economy ::American Samoa
Economy - overview:
American Samoa has a traditional
Polynesian economy in which more than 90% of the land is communally
owned. Economic activity is strongly linked to the US with which
American Samoa conducts most of its commerce. Tuna fishing and tuna
processing plants are the backbone of the private sector, with canned
tuna the primary export. The two tuna canneries account for 80% of
employment. In late September 2009, an earthquake and the resulting
tsunami devastated American Samoa and nearby Samoa, disrupting
transportation and power generation, and resulting in about 200 deaths.
The US Federal Emergency Management Agency is overseeing a relief
program of nearly $25 million. Transfers from the US Government add
substantially to American Samoa's economic well being. Attempts by the
government to develop a larger and broader economy are restrained by
Samoa's remote location, its limited transportation, and its devastating
hurricanes. Tourism is a promising developing sector.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$575.3 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
$510.1 million (2003 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$462.2 million (2005)
GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2003)
country comparison to the world: 58
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$8,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
$5,800 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry:
NA%
services:
NA%
Labor force:
17,630 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 209
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 34%
industry:
33%
services:
33% (1990)
Unemployment rate:
29.8% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 175
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
